Last Blog from Tokyo

Wow! I can't believe this, but in about 7 hours I will be on a flight to America. This summer has flown by, Father has worked in huge ways. He has changed the hearts of many people, is raising up a generation of Japanese believers, and has changed the hearts of us interns. Personally, I have drawn so much closer to Father. He has stretched me and taught me so much. I can only stand in awe of what He has done.

Second VBS

Our second session of VBS was amazing. We had about 11 kids everyday. They were a lively group and were really receptive. It was beautiful when we would talk to the kids and we could see that they were learning. They memorized Bible verses and bible songs. It was so amazing to hear them and know that they knew it. My last day was really bittersweet. I hated to say goodbye to all the awesome kids and the woman who runs the school. She has become my Japanese mom and I love her dearly. She has poured into my life since the day I met her. Which was the first week we were here.

Some of the kids at VBS.

For our final fun day, we got to go to Disneyland and Disney Sea. It was a really fun weekend and our Japanese friends came with us and that was super fun. One of the guys who came with us really liked learning the hand signals for Texas colleges. He had a blast doing the Axe 'Em Jacks sign.

Our group at Disneyland

The high school interns left on August 3 and that was a really sad day as half of our intern family headed back to America. They were an awesome group of interns. They really impressed me with their maturity and how they spent a month and a half away from their families. I could not have done that at their age. The last few days we had here consisted of us meeting with our contacts for the last time before we left. It was sad to tell our friends goodbye but I know that Father will still be working in their lives.

C-son and I at Disney

I want to say thank-you for all the prayers over this summer. I'm really glad that I did this blog this summer to keep everyone updated with what was going on in Tokyo. Thank-you for taking an interest in my summer and what Father is doing here in Tokyo. Please continue to pray for this city and this country, Father is at work here. See y'all in America!

VBS Session 2

Father blew my mind away today. We started our second session of VBS. It was 1:15 and the VBS started at 1:30, and no kids were. We were sitting around the table and were starting to wonder if any kids were going to come. All of a sudden, we had 11 kids running around. Father answers prayers, He has proven that over and over. Out of the kids who came today, only four have been raised in Christian homes. Two of the kids who came were also with us last week which was super awesome. This VBS has made me see the impact that kids have on their parents, especially when it comes to the gospel.



Tomorrow is Super Summer Global's last day with us. They have been a blessing. I have really enjoyed going out with the trecks. They have done an awesome job here. They have rolled with whatever was thrown their way and have thrived. They are our last team for the summer, which is something that feels really weird. Our first team arrived exactly a week after we arrived and we have had teams since then. Now we are going to have a week and a half with no teams, that is going to feel really different.

Its hard to realize that soon I will be back in the states. Next Tuesday the High School interns are heading back to America. I have been given the privilege to live with 5 of the high school girls. They have been a blessing on my life. I have formed life long friendships, which is a beautiful thing.

Prayer Requests:

• For the next three days of VBS.
• The kids who are coming to VBS.
  
• The M's here
• Safe travel for SSG
• Honeybee English School

Awesome Things

This summer I have been asked one question, "What has been you favorite thing this summer?". I absolutely adore this question. It is a question just ready to proclaim Father's name and glory. So many things have happened this summer so I wanted to start sharing some of my most favorite things.

Bracelets:

This is something that Father has just blessed and glorified Himself in. I have bought some bracelets that they write whatever you want on them in Japanese. I wear them almost everyday and they have been a powerful ministry tool. I have been able to share the good news of Jesus 10 times with almost twenty people.

1. I was at dinner with three Japanese college girls. They saw my bracelet and wanted to know why I have "be joyful" written on it. I was then able to share about the joy I have in Christ.
2. I was at English club at Chofu Baptist and the women there saw my bracelet and I was able to share the verse behind my "Be joyful" bracelet.
3. I was teaching the Bible study at Honeybee and the moms saw my bracelets and we were able to talk about how Father gives us joy and what true beauty is.
4. We were at the park one Sunday for worship and there was a group of people dancing. We were able to talk to them and they told us they are Buddhist. They asked me about my bracelet and I told them about the joy I have in Christ.
5. Another Sunday, we were about to capture the flag and one Japanese guy who was invited by some of the volunteers to play was talking to me and saw my bracelet. He asked about why it said "be joyful" and I told him about the joy I have in Christ.
6. There is a college student I met at a friendship party who has become a good friend with all of the interns. He also asked why my bracelet said "be joyful"
7. A fellow believer wanted to also know about my "be joyful" bracelet.
8. I was coming home one day and I was talking to the woman next to me. She eyed my bracelet and wanted to know about it. I was able to tell her about Jesus for the first time in her life.
9. I met a girl Saturday night, she went to dinner with a group of us interns and volunteers. She asked about my bracelet and I was able to talk about the joy I have in Christ.
10. Today I met two girls at the park. They asked why I was wearing the bracelets. I was able to share with them the good news of Jesus.

Father works in marvelous ways, he uses everything for his glory, even bracelets that are bought on a whim, or so I thought.

Another awesome thing that happened was when I was riding with the lady who runs Honeybee. She was showing us the way to ride our bikes to Honeybee. As we were driving, she told us that around the corner is a cult, she asked us to pray that God would get rid of it. When we turned the corner, where the cult was supposed to be was an empty lot. She rejoiced as we drove, thanking Father for removing that evil place from the neighborhood.

Father has blessed me with an awesome intern family. What started out as 17 strangers from three organizations has became a tight knit family. I love each of them dearly. I now have three families, my biological family, SFA family, and now my intern family. When the High School interns arrived, our family doubled in not only numbers but in unity. Father has kept us close as we have worked together this summer.

VBS!

The past few days have been really good. Saturday was my last free day, which just blows my mind, this summer has gone so fast! On Monday I will have been here for two months.

Saturday July 17

For our last free day before Texas Super Summer arrives with 120 students and my VBS starts we wanted to do something really fun. So we went to the beach! This place was totally awesome! It really shown God's beauty.


Sunday July 18

For church this week, we went to Chofu Baptist again. When we arrived, we were asked if we were ready to speak. Once again, Father taught me to just roll with what He throws my way. It was really neat to share with Chofu what I have been learning, how Father is moving in my life, and what they can be praying for me.

Here are my answers:

What I have been learning this summer and what Father is doing in my life: "He must become greater, and I must become less" John 3:30. This verse was laid on my heart at base camp, our few days of training before leaving for Tokyo. My life is for Father's glory, not mine. I have also learned how I have to just rest in Father, He sustains me. He is really all I need.

For prayer requests, I talked about the VBS that started on Tuesday. The pastors wife was translating, and when I talked about the VBS, she looked at me and asked if it was in Japan. Her face lit up when I said yes.

This Church has really taught me about the body of Christ. Even though, we speak different languages and have different customs, we are believers in Father. That is the only connection we really need. This place has become on of my favorite places in Tokyo. It is full of encouragement, love, and support which is exactly what a Church is supposed to be.

That afternoon, we were able to meet once again with the group of students who are Christians. I have become really good friends with two girls A and Y. They are really sweet and encouraging. They each sent me e-mails saying how awesome it is to be sisters in Christ. The students we meet with want to hear our struggles and testimonies. Most of them have grown up being the only Christians at their schools. A and Y just blow my mind. We are learning from each other, coming from different countries and backgrounds, but Father is the glue that binds us together.

Also on Sunday, one of my new brothers in Christ was baptized. His girlfriend has spent three years sharing with him. This summer he made the decision to become a believer in Christ. It is really awesome to see all the ancient work that has been poured into his life.

Monday July 19

Super Summer global arrived, bring us 123 high school students for a week. SSG holds a special place in my heart, since I went on my first M trip with SSG. It is awesome to be around this group of excited, energized, awesome high schoolers.

Tuesday July 20

Tuesday was our first day of VBS! It is so awesome to be apart of something that is the result of five years of prayer. We had seven kids come and some wanting to come the next day. Language is a small barrier that is not bigger than Father. We are able to communicate with the awesome kids who are ages 5-9. They are really sweet, and Father has been working in their lives since they were babies. We were told that one of the boys who is coming used to come to the mom and baby English class. Somehow, they fell under the radar for a few years, but now he is back and is at the VBS! We went over the parable of the different soils.

Wednesday July 21

Wednesday was really good. We had 8 kids at the VBS. We did a water balloon fight at the park. They loved it! We also talked about John 3;16. We went over the gospel today, and were able to have it translated in Japanese so the kids will understand it better.

Thursday July 22

We did the story of the Good Samaritan with the kids. We found out that the parents of these kids are hearing about what they are learning. Some of the parents are calling to ask what the stories mean. This is such an answer to prayer! Father is using us to reach these awesome kids and their parents! Father is so good!

Friday July 23

Today was our final day of this session of VBS. This was a very bittersweet day. We once again went over the gospel with them. I love each and everyone of these kids. They have been a joy to work with. One little boy came and was scared of so many foreigners at first, but was upset when he couldn't come because he was sick. He is planning on coming next week! One little girl's story just makes my heart so full! She somehow found one of the fliers we handed out last week and has been coming. She rides her bike to the school everyday on her own. She was really shy at first and doesn't speak much English, but she has warmed up to us and has learned this week.

The VBS group!

Prayer Requests:

• The SSG team, to recover over jet lag, be excited, and be persistent.
• Divine appointments for meaningful conversations.
• Endurance for all of my intern team, its going to be really busy but awesome!
• The VBS, for the seeds we sow in the kids to grow
• The kids who come to VBS
• The M's here

Until the Whole World Hears

Father has been moving in big ways this week. All I can do is stand in awe of the awesome things He does.

Wednesday July 14

The group of girls and I who are doing the VBS had an awesome opportunity to visit a nursery. It was an awesome experience. We got to love on those kids and get to know the nursery workers who are really sweet. We sang songs with the kids, played games, and got to love on them. At first I thought they would be overwhelmed by six Americans coming in, but they didn't want us to leave. Being there just really taught me about being the hands and feet of Christ. We got to love on some adorable Japanese kids who are as cute as can be.

Me and my buddy, D-chon

All of the kids!

Cutie!

That night, we had worship with our entire intern group. These times are so sweet, to worship with the entire team and share the awesome things that are going on. One of the other M families here is about to head back to the states for furlough, so they had a kitchen full of food to get rid of. They asked if they could make us a lasagna. It was really fun to spend time with my team, the journeymen, and the M families here.

Update: The girls who work at the nursery want to meet up with us again! Pray that we can share Christ with them!

Thursday July 15

We had a normal day of preparing for the VBS, we cleaned, decorated, passed out flyers, and practiced. That afternoon, I went to meet up with some friends for Bible study. It is awesome to study the Bible together and share the Word. On the way back to my Tokyo house, I was on a train, and I wasn't sure if it would stop at my station. Some of the trains skip smaller stations so I would just transfer trains to get to my station. The train was full of people coming home from work. One of the few seats open on the train was right next to me. A woman got on and I prayed that she would sit next to me. She did! I asked her if the train stopped at the station I needed and she said yes. I explained to her how I don't want to get lost, and she understood. She spoke perfect English. She then dug around in her purse and pulled out a handbook for people who do not speak Japanese. She handed it to me and told me that is was a present. I wanted to give her something too, so I wanted to give her something too. All I had to give her was a Hope tract. I gave it too her and explained why I was here. She saw my bracelet, which was on my left hand and she was too my right. She pulled my arm over and asked if I knew what it meant. I once again got to share about the joy I have in Christ! I then asked her if she believed in Jesus. She told me that she has never heard of Jesus. So many people in Japan haven't even heard the name of Jesus. I had only ten minutes to tell her about Jesus. She ended up getting off at the stop before mine. Please pray that I might be able to see her again!

That very morning I had been praying that I would be able to share Jesus with someone. Father totally used my time on the train to let a woman hear about Jesus for the first time in her life. Also that morning I was listening to the song "Until the Whole World Hears" by Casting Crowns. It talks about how we will keep on singing until the whole world hears. This applies to the Great Commission, which tells us to go out and make disciples of all the nations. I listened to the song about five times on my way to the station that morning and it played in my head all that day. Father is just awesome, He puts us in situations where He is glorified. Everything works for His glory.

Friday July 16

Today was our last day of preparation for the VBS. The room is ready and now all we need is the kids! Please be praying for kids to come. We do not know how many are coming. I am really excited to get to love on these kids and share the love of Christ with them. It is so awesome to see all the awesome things Father has done to bring this VBS about. He is going to do awesome things with this!

During our lunch break, we went to one of the few Christian book stores in Tokyo. It was so awesome to see a room full of Bibles and Christian materials and know that there are people here that love Father. The woman working there, Y-son is an awesome woman. She talked about how the Word of God is her treasure and how she starts her day with time in the word. She told us her favorite verse is Ecclesiastes 3:11

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

She told us that this verse is the reason she is a Christian. She asked each of us our favorite verse and we were able to share them with her. She is so sweet and I cannot wait to go back and see her again!

Prayer Requests

• For kids to come to the VBS
• Y-son
• The girls who work at the nursery
• The woman I met on the train
• Safe travel for the super summer global group
• Opportunities for us to share the good news every day, hopefully multiple times.
• Japanese Christians
• For all people to know Christ
  

Encouragement

This past week, I have come into contact with about twelve Christians who live here in Japan. Some are not Japanese, but Chinless and Korean. It is so encouraging that we are in the country that is considered the most unreached place, we can meet and fellowship with fellow believers. Last Friday, I met a guy who became a Christian in 2007 by meeting an intern that summer. He asked me what my favorite verse was and then another Japanese University student, who came to the party to meet with some of our volunteers saw it. He asked if what I had was a Bible, I said yes and was able to share 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Saturday July, 10

For my off day, I met up with some of the other interns in Shibuya. We wanted to do something fun, but could not decide what to do. We looked on google for something fun to do, but we weren't interested in what came up. Another intern started giving us ideas from what she had done in Tokyo. One idea was Beignets, a restaurant in New Orleans has about five locations in the world and one was in Tokyo. So we went on an adventure to find it! We did find it, and was able to meet a Japanese couple and gave them a Hope tract for the Hope DVD. Hopefully they will be interested in the Gospel and send it in. No matter what, even when we have our free days, we are still on the job. As Christians, we do not get days off. Father has divine appointments set up all the time, not just when it is convenient for us. We found the beignets, they were delicious, a taste of New Orleans in Tokyo!

New Orleans in Tokyo?

We went to see the Tokyo Tower that night, it is Japan's version of the Eiffel tower.


Sunday July 11

We had our normal worship in the park, I look forward to it every week. This time, as we were getting ready to play capture the flag, another M called and said there were some Japanese students who wanted to meet American students. I was one of the ones who got to go. We ended up visiting a families apartment. There is ten Japanese Christian families who all live in the same apartment complex. Their kids have grown up in Christian homes, which is super rare here. They also do not know many Christians their age. The parents wanted their kids to meet Christians who were their kids age and at the same stage of life. The night was amazing! It was so encouraging! There were about 15 students there. It was great to talk about our struggles and share advice on situations. I ended up being asked how I became a believer and about how Father has worked in my life. I was also asked about the role my parents have played in my walk with Father. These kids have an awesome foundation, parents who love Father. I have been blessed with being raised in a Christian home. We were supposed to only spend the afternoon with them, but then they asked us to stay for dinner. They told us they were going to make spaghetti for us. I was expecting the normal meat and tomatoe sauce spaghetti. However, they wanted to make something really nice for us, Spam spaghetti. In Japan, spam is considered something really special. The students we met want to continue to spend time with us as we are here in Tokyo. It is awesome to see Fathers church all over the world, we are one body.

Spam Spaghetti!

Our new friends!

Monday July 12

I mentioned Divine appointments earlier, an awesome opportunity opened up Monday morning while we were waiting for our train. I was sitting on a bench with two other intern girls. An older woman approached us and asked if she could speak English to us. Of course we said yes. She asked us where we were from and why we we are here. Our train came, so we said goodbye to her and gave her a hope tract. We got on the train, Father had it planned that we ended up in the same car. She approached us again and showed us the tract we had given her. She told us that the translation was very good. We were able to talk to her about what we believed in during our three minute train ride. She seems interested in the Hope DVD and the Japanese Bible. Please be praying for her.

For the past week, me along with five other intern girls have been working at a Christian English school preparing for our VBS that starts next week. This entire VBS is a complete God thing. He has provided in so many ways. We do not know yet how many kids will come. Please be praying for children to come.

The website for the English school and our VBS. We are halfway down the page.

http://www.honeybee1.com/

Tuesday July 13

Today, we worked once again at the English school. The people there have just blown me away. The kids are super sweet and it is just so awesome to see these little children learning about our Father. I have got to know their Mom's and share Christ with them. Parents who are not Christians are sending their kids! This is so awesome! Parents are being reached by their kids coming home and singing songs about Jesus!

Tokyo Knowledge

• Stand to the left
• Be quiet
• Don't stab your food with your chopsticks, that is really rude.
  
• Don't stick your chopsticks up in your rice, this is part of Buddhist funerals.
• Take your shoes off when you enter most buildings.
• Sort the trash, because we are on an island, most trash is burned or recycled.
• When you say someones name, you say Joe son. Most of the people I meet think my name is Ali son or Alice son.
• Japanese fans are not just for looks, they are necessary.
• 99.5% of people don't know Jesus.

Prayer Requests

• For kids to come to our VBS.
• Contacts that are being made.
• Japanese Christians.
• Texas Super Summer, they will be here next week.
• Endurance for all of us here

Exactly Where I am Supposed to be

Being here in Tokyo has really made me stand in awe of what Father has done, is doing, and what He will do. Just talking to my fellow interns, the M's, and Japanese Christians shows the greatness of our Father. Prayers are being answered, hearts are being healed, people are being reached, most of all lives are being changed.

Sunday we had our worship in the park as usual. We had a huge group from Texas with us. Being the Fourth of July and having a group of Texans with us was comforting. Once again Father blew my mind. We were about to start playing capture the flag and some of the volunteers asked a group of Japanese college students to play with us. I started talking to a guy named N. We talked about school, America, then he asked about my bracelet. The one I was wearing was my "be joyful" bracelet. He asked me if I knew what it meant. I was then able to pull out the word and explain about the joy we have in Christ. He asked me why we were here and I was able to share with this guy. When I asked if he believed in Jesus, he told me that the Japanese do not believe in Jesus. Please pray that the Japanese will not let their culture and traditions hold them back from Christ. This is the fifth time that I have been able to share because of my bracelets. I bought it on a whim, but Father has used them for his glory.

Monday July 5

We celebrated the 5th/4th of July by going to the river. We did the traditional things with a twist. We swam, in a Japanese river. We cooked what they call American dogs. We also found firecrackers which was fun.

The River

Jumping off "The Big Rock"

That evening, I was walking back to my Tokyo house, and we basically had to swim there. It is rainy season, but this rain was the worst I have ever seen in Tokyo. It ended up being really fun during our 20 minute walk. When we crossed streets, the water was halfway to my knees and there was a little current. The fields were pouring their mud onto the sidewalks, which made walking interesting. You gotta love rainy season!

Tuesday July 6

Today, the girls I live with and I started working at the English school where we will be doing the VBS. It is super exciting to be preparing the VBS for kids who might be hearing the name of Jesus for the first time. The lady who runs the school told us how this VBS came to be. She has been wanting to have a VBS for five years. Father worked in big ways to make it happen this year. Last year, He made it possible for her to rent the floor below her school. The room had been too expensive to rent before, but Father had the place stay empty until the money was available to rent it. Now with the room, it is time for the VBS. So many awesome things are happening through this English school. Today she told us of the awesome things Father is doing. One little boy was just baptized. He started going to the nursery at 5 months old. One day when he was 5 or 6 he was outside and an Christian American couple passed his yard as they were headed to a church, and he said "Hello". The couple stopped and talked to the little boy. They asked his grandmother if they could take him to Sunday school. The grandmother was taken to Sunday school when she was a child and remembered enjoying it. So, she let the total strangers take her grandson to the church. That little boy has now become a believer. The family has asked about his new faith and has heard the good news. The couple who met him has decided to pay for him to go to a Christian school and Christian college in the states. Father is so good!

Father is so good! He is moving and shaking things! It is awesome to see the amazing things He is doing in Tokyo, Winnie, Nacogdoches, and everywhere!

Prayer Requests

• N, that he will receive Christ
• The youth group here for the week
• The VBS
• Honeybee English school
• Opportunities for us to share everyday with someone
  
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